Wozniacki blasts back at the Martinas

Caroline Wozniacki has hit back at comments by ex-players, including Martina Navratilova, that she was not a worthy world number one.

The 21-year-old was ranked as the best player in the word for 67 weeks before losing top spot to Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open as the Belarusian claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park.

Wozniacki burst onto the scene a few years back and made a rapid ascent up the rankings.

She reached the final of the 2009 US Open and the semi-finals of the 2011 Australian Open.

But, those results aside, the Danish star has never really done it at the 'Slams - tournaments that normally define a players' career.

But, with multiple tournament victories around the world away from the big-four, she accumulated enough ranking points to reach the top of the standings towards the end of 2010 - becoming only the fifth player to reach the top spot without winning a major.

A continual lack of success against her fellow top-10 stars drew criticism from the likes of Navratilova, who said "clearly nobody feels that Wozniacki is a true No 1".

Martina Hingis also stick her oar in, saying that Wozniacki was "too defensive" in her play, but now the Scandinavian has had her say and feels that the two legends of the game should have had more empathy for a fellow professional, regardless of her status in the game.

"I have lost a little bit of respect. Because I respect what they have achieved. I know how hard it is to reach the top level of a sport like tennis," she told a press conference.

"I would never say Martina (Navratilova) was No 1 when there was no one playing. That would be disrespectful. She was unbelievable. She won so many Grand Slams.

"Martina Hingis was unbelievable as well - my favourite player. But I think they should respect the players that are playing now as well. Because they know how hard it is."